Question of the Week: Is California’s top-two primary system working?

Diversity, balance of power and public accountability — that’s what voters sought four years ago when they approved California’s top-two primary election system.

Voters then were sick of political gridlock in Sacramento,

They hoped the new primary system, in place in 2012, would user in an era of compromise by giving candidates incentive to stake out moderate positions in order to appeal to members of both major parties.

The new system, which advances the top two vote-getters — regardless of party affiliation — to the general election, has had little effect on popular frontrunners in many contests. Gov. Jerry Brown cruised easily to first place in the gubernatorial primary on June 3, for example — no surprise there. But the more nuanced fight for the second-place finish kept everyone guessing. Would voters back Neel Kashkari, a moderate Republican, or Tim Donnelly, a favorite with the tea party movement?

Kashkari edged out Donnelly. Does that prove the top-two system is working as intended?

We’d like to know your thoughts on the top-two primary. Is it producing the kinds of results you expected?

Consider the primaries in the seven congressional districts that have produced November candidates representing only one political party. Do you think that’s providing voters with the choice they sought?

Low voter turnout, meanwhile, suggests independents sat this election out, leaving the two dominant political parties to hash it out at the polls. Are you an independent voter? Were you turned off by a lack of political diversity in some races?

What do you make of the GOP’s showing in the June contents? After top finishes by Republicans Pete Peterson and Ashley Swearengin, for secretary of state and state controller, respectively, do you think the GOP has a shot at breaking into statewide office?

What do you think?

Send your thoughts to opinion@langnews.com. Please include your full name and city or community of residence. Also, provide a daytime phone number so we can verify you sent the comment. Or, if you prefer, share your views in the comments section below this article online.

We’ll publish as many responses as possible in Sunday’s newspaper and online.